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BFREE Research
Early scientific exploration in the upper Bladen watershed generally was descriptive, short-term, and restricted to the dry season (click here for an annotated bibliography of foundational Bladen reports). Since the establishment of the BFREE field station, researchers have year-round access to remote and undisturbed research sites. Biological inventories for several taxa exist, and a number of long-term and quantitative studies have been undertaken.
The Dora Weyer Natural History Library. Named in honor of one of Belize’s pioneer conservationists, BFREE’s steadily expanding, (multi-media) library is particularly strong in tropical forest and plant ecology, Belizean natural history, and herpetology. All reports completed at BFREE and in the adjacent Bladen Nature Reserve are available to students and researchers, as well as:
BFREE maintains locally-collected reference specimens of the following taxa
BFREE stores a hodgepodge of basic research and mechanical equipment that may be borrowed or rented by visiting students and researchers, depending on the intended use and duration. Of course, other demands exist, and field use is hard on equipment, therefore not all items below are available at all times. Contact us about arranging use of any of the following equipment during your time at BFREE:
In general, if a piece of equipment is crucial to your research, you should count on bringing your own. Bring two, for that matter, and consider making a material donation to BFREE when your research is inactive or concluded! Electricity (AC and DC) is available from solar panels (or photovoltaic cells) for personal and research devices including computers, battery chargers, etc. Note that BFREE does not offer computer facilities with the exception of internet access in the Transporter Room. |
An important part of BFREE’s mission is the promotion and facilitation of permitted scientific research in the Bladen Nature Reserve and other neighboring protected areas. We offer basic, comfortable living and research facilities and access to a diverse array of potential study sites. Also, BFREE maintains a number of scientific resources, including the Dora Weyer Natural History Library, reference biological collections, equipment, and daily onsite weather measurements since 1997. 
